I am a cognitive linguist, with a specific interest in figurative language. My research interests lie in the analysis of figurative communication (be it verbal, written, visual, or gestural) to provide insights into physical, psychological and social experiences, with a main focus on the experience of grief and bereavement.

From 2016-2018, I was a postdoctoral research fellow on the ESRC-funded project ‘Death Before Birth’. This project explored socio-legal intersections of decision-making processes in the experiences of miscarriage, termination, and stillbirth and investigates the ways in which the bereaved communicate their choices to those around them, with a particular focus on their use of metaphor and metonymy. From 2018-2020, I was involved in a project funded by the True Colours Trust exploring experiences of bereavement following child loss. 

Since then, I have been developing a research profile based on understanding experiences of end-of-life, grief, and bereavement, and working with academic, charity and industry stakeholders to co-design interventions to support individuals and communities affected by these topics. I draw on creative methodologies alongside philosophies of co-design and co-creation to ensure my work has maximum positive impact for the communities it is designed to serve.

Education

• BA (Hons) Modern Languages (French, Spanish, Japanese)
  University of Birmingham, 2005-2009

• MA Special Applications of Linguistics
  University of Birmingham, 2009-2010

• PGCert Advanced Research Methods and Skills
  University of Birmingham, 2011-2014

• PhD English Language
  University of Birmingham, 2011-2014

Before coming to Coventry University, I taught at the universities of Birmingham, Reading and Tokyo.

My thesis was entitled The Development of Metaphorical Competence in French and Japanese Learners of English, supervised by Professor Jeannette Littlemore at the University of Birmingham and funded by an ESRC DTC Doctoral Award in Applied Linguistics.

This thesis used an investigation of metaphor use in a hand-coded corpus of written examinations of French and Japanese learners of English to address four main areas.  The first investigated the development of metaphor use across different levels of written language.  The second sought to exemplify the way in which metaphor use is related to other aspects of language in this context, particularly lexis and phraseology, while the third explored the functions learners used metaphor to perform.  The fourth area drew the preceding sections together to explore what ‘metaphoric competence’ might mean in the context of learners’ exam-based written language, and how it might be measured.

• Helen Ryder, 2025 – present, Coventry University. Second supervisor.
• Alvanita (Alvanita), 2025 – present, Coventry University. Director of Studies.
• Adela Pakandlova, 2024 – present, Coventry University. Director of Studies. M4C CDA student.
• Donna Parlby, 2024 – present, Coventry University. Director of Studies.
• Agus Riadi, 2024 – present, Coventry University. Second supervisor.
• Meryem Clarke, 2021 – present, University of Birmingham. Co-supervisor through M4C AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership Award.

• Eloise Parr, 2022 – 2025, University of Birmingham. Co-supervisor through M4C AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership Award.
• Cipto Wardoyo, 2021 – 2024, Coventry University. Third supervisor.